program

[ proh-gram, -gruh m ]

/ ˈproʊ græm, -grəm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR program ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a plan of action to accomplish a specified end: a school lunch program.

a plan or schedule of activities, procedures, etc., to be followed.

a broadcasted television or radio production or similar Internet-based content produced for distribution.

a list of items, pieces, performers, etc., in a musical, theatrical, or other entertainment.

an entertainment with reference to its pieces or numbers: a program of American and French music.

a planned, coordinated group of activities, procedures, etc., often for a specific purpose, or a facility offering such a series of activities: a drug rehabilitation program; a graduate program in linguistics.

a prospectus or syllabus: a program of courses being offered.

Also called computer program. Digital Technology. a precise sequence of instructions enabling a computer to perform a task; a piece of software.

verb (used with object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

to schedule as part of a program.

Digital Technology. to write code for (a computer program or application).

to insert or encode specific operating instructions into (a machine or apparatus): We'll program the bells to ring at ten-minute intervals.

to insert (instructions) into a machine or apparatus: An automatic release has been programmed into the lock as a safety feature.

to cause to absorb or incorporate automatic responses, attitudes, or the like; condition: Our parents programmed us to respect our elders.

to set, regulate, or modify so as to produce a specific response or reaction: Program your eating habits to eliminate sweets.

verb (used without object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

to plan or write a program.

Digital Technology. to write computer code.

Nearby words

Also especially British, pro·gramme.

Origin of program

1625–35; < Late Latin programma < Greek prógramma “public notice in writing.” See pro-², -gram¹

Related formsre·pro·gram, verb (used with object), re·pro·grammed or re·pro·gramed, re·pro·gram·ming or re·pro·gram·ing.un·pro·grammed, adjective

Can be confusedpogrom program

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for programs

And that means they also fall under the umbrella of programs most likely to get the axe when state and federal budgets are tight.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis|Keli Goff|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Direct funds away from practices, policies, and programs that consistently fail to achieve measurable outcomes.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Build evidence about the practices, policies, and programs that will achieve the most effective and efficient results.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To whet your appetite, you can relive that glorious moment (and watch other programs from the 2014 summit) here.
Save the Date: Women in the World 2015||December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Now that the Confucian-inspired mourning period is over, the son is free to embark on his own programs and policies.
Kim Jong Un’s Kid Gloves Are Now Off|Gordon G. Chang|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The vice president in charge of programs dropped into the 205studio that afternoon and watched them work for over an hour.
Janet Hardy in Radio City|Ruthe S. Wheeler
In turn, they can be encoded in programs designed to negotiate with other programs.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin
To prove my case I pulled the two programs from my pocket and showed them to her.
Europe Revised|Irvin S. Cobb
Programs are written in symbolic or application-oriented form instead of computer language.
IBM 1401 Programming Systems|Anonymous
The strategic defense initiative (SDI) was focused upon developing anti-missile and anti-satellite technologies and programs.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for programs

program

sometimes programme

/ (ˈprəʊɡræm) /

noun

a sequence of coded instructions fed into a computer, enabling it to perform specified logical and arithmetical operations on data

verb -grams, -gramming, -grammed, -grammes, -gramming or -grammed

(tr) to feed a program into (a computer)

(tr) to arrange (data) into a suitable form so that it can be processed by a computer

(intr) to write a program

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for programs

program

1630s, "public notice," from Late Latin programma "proclamation, edict," from Greek programma "a written public notice," from stem of prographein "to write publicly," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + graphein "to write" (see -graphy).

General sense of "a definite plan or scheme" is recorded from 1837. Meaning "list of pieces at a concert, playbill" first recorded 1805 and retains the original sense. That of "objects or events suggested by music" is from 1854. Sense of "broadcasting presentation" is from 1923. Computer sense (noun and verb) is from 1945. Spelling programme, established in Britain, is from French in modern use and began to be used early 19c., originally especially in the "playbill" sense. Program music attested from 1877.

program

1889, "write program notes;" 1896, "arrange according to program," from program (n.). Of computers from 1945. From 1963 in the figurative sense of "to train to behave in a predetermined way." Related: Programmed; programming.

Science definitions for programs

program

[ prō′grăm′ ]

A organized system of instructions and data interpreted by a computer. Programming instructions are often referred to as code. See more at source code. See also programming language.

Culture definitions for programs

program

A series of instructions given to a computer to direct it to carry out certain operations. The term code is often used to denote large-scale operations.

program

noun

verb (used with object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

verb (used without object), pro·grammed or pro·gramed, pro·gram·ming or pro·gram·ing.

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Origin of program

Examples from the Web for programs

program

sometimes programme

noun

verb -grams, -gramming, -grammed, -grammes, -gramming or -grammed

program

program

program

program